Gingerbread Bars

These chewy and simple Gingerbread Bars are an extra easy and extra delicious treat, perfect for Christmas and other holiday celebrations!

Spicy Gingerbread Bars Perfect for Christmas

Christmas is knocking at the front door, and if you’re needing an extra easy and extra delicious treat, these Gingerbread Bars are just what you need. They’re perfect for everyone on your treat list: teachers, friends, neighbors, or even the mailman! Everyone is sure to love the warmth and chewiness of the gingerbread combined with the creamy and tangy cream cheese frosting.

A Delicious Combination of Spices

A handful of pantry staples come together to create this gingerbread masterpiece. While some gingerbread can be overpowering, we’ve tested and tried the spices to perfection. Here are particular spices you’ll need:

• Cinnamon – Brings in warmth and ties all the spices together in harmony.
• Cloves – Definitely one of our favorite spices, but be careful not to overdo it. A little goes a long way!
• Nutmeg – Brings in a hint of sweetness and nuttiness.
• Ginger – Well, these are called GINGERbread bars for a reason! This is also a strong spice, so don’t be tempted to add more than what is called for. We triple promise it’s the right amount!
• Molasses – Not a spice, but still delicious and important!

How to Make Gingerbread Bars

Making your gingerbread bars is pretty straightforward, but let’s walk you through the process! Here we go…

Make the Cookie Dough Base

The very first thing you need to do is make the dough. You’ll want to cream the butter, brown sugar, and sugar together. Cream them until they’re light and fluffy. Then mix in the egg, vanilla, and molasses. You’ll want to whip this for 1-2 minutes. Watch for the mixture to start changing colors. When it turns a light brown color, you can stop! Finally, mix in your spices, and then your dry ingredients. Once everything is mixed in and your dough has formed, you’re ready to add it to the pan!

Press into Pan and Bake

Line a jelly roll pan or an 8×8 pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper and spray with non-stick spray. This will ensure that your bars don’t stick to anything! Add the dough to the pan and press down firmly. If you want a cookie edge like we did, press the dough up the sides of the pan too. Heat your oven to 325°. If you’re using a jelly roll pan, bake for 20-22 minutes, and if you’re using an 8×8 pan (like we did), bake for 25-27 minutes. Be sure to cool completely before adding the frosting!

Make Cream Cheese Frosting

Cream cheese frosting always pairs well with gingerbread. There’s just something about that combo that will make you swoon, and making cream cheese frosting isn’t difficult at all.

While the bars are in the oven baking, simply mix together the softened butter, softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Frost the gingerbread bars when they are completely cooled down.

Other Frosting Options

While cream cheese frosting is our first choice, there are other options you can most certainly choose from. Here are some we suggest:

• Buttercream frosting
• Cinnamon frosting – Use our regular buttercream frosting recipe, but add in 1/2 to 1 tsp of cinnamon.
• Orange frosting – This might sound weird, but it works! Grate some orange zest into the frosting, and instead of using heavy cream, use 2-3 TBSP of fresh orange juice.

How to Store Gingerbread Bars

Store leftover gingerbread bars in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to a week.

Can I Freeze Gingerbread Bars?

You can freeze baked but unfrosted gingerbread bars in an airtight container for up to 3 months. We don’t recommend freezing cream cheese frosting. It doesn’t thaw well. When ready to eat, just pull the gingerbread bars out from the freezer, bring to room temperature, and frost!

Other Treats for the Holidays!

• Candy Cane Cookies
• Cranberry Orange Cookies
• Peanut Butter Blossoms
• Microwave Fudge
• Peanut Butter Fudge

Gingerbread Bars

Christmas is knocking at the front door, and if you're needing an extra easy and extra delicious treat, these Gingerbread Bars are just what you need.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 1 hour hr 40 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 16 bars

Calories 238 kcal

Equipment

• jelly roll pan

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1/2 cup butter softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 whole egg
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon cloves
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Frosting –

• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Line 12.25” x 8.75” x 1” jelly roll pan with foil or parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Stir in egg, vanilla and molasses. Whip 1-2 minutes or until it turns a light brown color. Stir in remaining ingredients and mix until dry ingredients are just combined. Press into prepared pan and bake 20-22 minutes or until edges are barely starting to brown. Cool completely.
• For the frosting- whip all ingredients together until smooth. Spread overtop bars and cut into squares. Serve immediately or store in air tight container.

Notes

*If you don’t have a small jellyroll pan, you can use a glass 8×8 dish, just add 2-3 extra minutes to the baking time. The bars will be slightly thicker.

Nutrition

Calories: 238kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 2gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 259mgPotassium: 42mgFiber: 1gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 438IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 19mgIron: 1mg

Keyword christmas cookies, cream cheese frosting, gingerbread bars

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